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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
5.1/5 stars.
Reading this book I felt the awe and admiration Astrid had for Ingrid, and how it dissipated slowly, replaced by resentment. I felt every hurt that Astrid felt, I went with her from home to home as she was beaten down again and again. I felt how her view of the world changed year by year, how with every new foster parent she lost a little of herself. I felt how angry she was at her mother, and how despite this she still craved her affection and approval. This book reached so far into me, with its beautiful writing and heart wrenching storyline, I don't think I'll ever be able to stop thinking about it.
Reading this book I felt the awe and admiration Astrid had for Ingrid, and how it dissipated slowly, replaced by resentment. I felt every hurt that Astrid felt, I went with her from home to home as she was beaten down again and again. I felt how her view of the world changed year by year, how with every new foster parent she lost a little of herself. I felt how angry she was at her mother, and how despite this she still craved her affection and approval. This book reached so far into me, with its beautiful writing and heart wrenching storyline, I don't think I'll ever be able to stop thinking about it.
A dark but beautifully written novel with characters so real and imagery so visual that you won't just start relating to Astrid, you'll feel like you are her. It's a story of a young child struggling through a tragic adolescence with nothing but herself to truly rely on, a story of the mistakes, regrets, and guilty pleasures of human nature, and a story that makes you grateful for what you have.
One of my all time faves. Fitch's writing is luminous and makes you pine for more. I couldn't put it down.
I actually bought the movie version of this book years ago. I didn't know it was a book, after reading it I thought it was a lot better then the movie. There was so much in the book that made more sense , so many things got cut out. An amazing read, the main character Astrid goes through so much but I think because of it all is why she became so dependent and self sufficient.
Holy crap. Something terrible happens to the main character like every 40 pages. I had a hard time continuing because I knew things would just go badly again soon haha. Despite that, it was a good read and I enjoyed it. I am looking forward to renting the movie to compare soon
The words were beautifully written. Fitch has an uncanny ability to make even the most common events sound beautiful. I believe that the voice of Oprah Winfrey's voice added to the beauty of the words. (Which surprised me!). I'm not sure I would have enjoyed the content of the book has it not been so beautifully written.
I always come back to this book. I’m not even sure how many times I’ve read it now over the years. Beautifully written, it’s like poetry.
I'm sometimes skeptical of books that become wildly popular. Every review I read about this book absolutely raved about how wonderful it is, and in this case my skepticism wasn't warranted. This book is hypnotic. It reads like a poem. It's rich with symbolism and I really appreciate the main character's growth throughout. I saw this movie when it came out as a teenager and barely remembered it. I'm glad watching the movie so long ago didn't ruin this book for me. Parts of it are disconcerting, but it was a great read.
White Oleander is the story of an orphan, Astrid, and her life in foster homes after her mother is sent to prison. It’s full of sadness and defeat (after all, we’re reminded over and over again in the novel that “loneliness is the human condition”), but it’s one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever read. Fitch’s writing is unlike any I’ve read before. I felt like I was reading a 450+ page poem. Every line in the book can be interpreted several ways, paint multiple visuals... I even found myself at times smelling the perfumes of the women, the tobacco (which every man seemed to smell like in this novel), and the violets that stayed with Astrid’s mother even when she was in prison. I could see how some might be annoyed by her writing style because at times it’s very melodramatic, but I really enjoyed everything in this novel and I know it will be a story that sticks with me for years to come.
Alright, here's an Oprah's Book Club book that I actually enjoyed. I've seen a lot of mixed reviews for this book. And here are my thoughts.
Astrid Magnussen is a child, living with her mother. Her mother, an artist, a poet and a woman who fights fiercely. However, when Ingrid's boyfriend leaves her, she exacts her revenge and poisons him with oleander flowers. She is arrested, sentenced to prison and sends her daughter to a never ending string of foster homes, and we follow Astrid on her journey to find herself, without her mother.
A lot of the content of this book is truly horrifying. I think one of the reasons that it is so horrifying is because some of the experiences that this child has, are experiences that other children have, this isn't merely a work of fiction. Some homes are better than others, but a lot of them are less than ideal. as she struggles to find herself, her mother still tries to exercise her control from prison. But through the small bit of love that she does find through one foster mom, she is able to stand up for herself.
This book is graphic and intense, and if that is not your cup of tea, I suggest that you stay away from this book. I know that it was made into a movie, which I haven't seen, but I've been told that like usual, the book is far better than the movie. The intensity of this book, and the way that Astrid's story has stuck with me, though its been a few years since I have read this book, everything has stuck with me. I would recommend this book to anyone, and I give it a 5 out of 5.
Astrid Magnussen is a child, living with her mother. Her mother, an artist, a poet and a woman who fights fiercely. However, when Ingrid's boyfriend leaves her, she exacts her revenge and poisons him with oleander flowers. She is arrested, sentenced to prison and sends her daughter to a never ending string of foster homes, and we follow Astrid on her journey to find herself, without her mother.
A lot of the content of this book is truly horrifying. I think one of the reasons that it is so horrifying is because some of the experiences that this child has, are experiences that other children have, this isn't merely a work of fiction. Some homes are better than others, but a lot of them are less than ideal. as she struggles to find herself, her mother still tries to exercise her control from prison. But through the small bit of love that she does find through one foster mom, she is able to stand up for herself.
This book is graphic and intense, and if that is not your cup of tea, I suggest that you stay away from this book. I know that it was made into a movie, which I haven't seen, but I've been told that like usual, the book is far better than the movie. The intensity of this book, and the way that Astrid's story has stuck with me, though its been a few years since I have read this book, everything has stuck with me. I would recommend this book to anyone, and I give it a 5 out of 5.